President's Message

Pat Collins

By Pat Collins

Two thousand and nine is already shaping up to be a challenging year on many fronts, but with history being made in the White House and great music being made and enjoyed in every corner of America, we at SESAC continue to feel optimistic about the future. It's important to remember that out of challenge comes innovation and Americans are facing very real challenges as we all seek to navigate the tumultuous economy. We look forward to the resulting innovation!

SESAC's "First Annual Music & Gaming Entertainment Seminar" was all about innovation. The event held at ZUNE LA in Los Angeles packed the house full of gamers who took advantage of the opportunity to hear an elite panel discuss the latest in gaming innovations. With video games becoming one of the go-to activities where kids discover new music in the digital age, the SESAC seminar was well-timed and well-received. At the post-event mixer, registrants got the chance to get up close and personal and match their Xbox skills with celebrity participants like SESAC affiliate Marques Houston.

Always willing to assist in the educational world, SESAC is collaborating with many colleges and universities around the country to provide information on the inner workings of the music industry and the invaluable service provided by Performing Rights Organizations. Be sure to check out the new SESAC educational initiative at sesac.com/edu.

If what's playing on the radio is any indication (and it always is), this is sure to be another banner year for SESAC's stellar family of songwriters. Here in Nashville, Liz Rose continues her ongoing chart run as Taylor Swift's main co-writer. Their song, "White Horse," is just the latest in a series of Rose-penned hit singles from Country's newest superstar. Also, rising star Randy Houser has broken out with his pure-country single, "Anything Goes," cowritten by SESAC's Brice Long.

R&B hit machine Bryan-Michael Cox continues his seemingly endless roll with the smash hit single, "We Need To Roll," recorded by Joe. R&B's songstress Keyshia Cole is enjoying a commercial and artistic breakthrough with her aptly titled album, A Different Me, and SESAC songwriters are contributing to her success including Jason Miller and Nikeshia Briscoe.
Speaking of Nikeshia Briscoe, this SESAC songwriter recently hit the top of Billboard's Hot 100, co-writing the latest Britney Spears smash "Womanizer." The song took the biggest chart leap of the year on the Hot 100 with its one week move from No. 96 to No. 1. And SESAC affiliated songwriter Rico Love is also enjoying big success on a number of fronts including co-writing and contributing no less than three songs – "Radio," "Sweet Dreams," "Scared of Lonely" – to superstar Beyonce's I Am Sasha Fierce album.
And last, but certainly not least, SESAC is pleased to welcome our new Vice President of West Coast Operations, Ashley Miller. With her rich background in publishing and television and film music, Ashley is a terrific addition to the SESAC team. She will be based in our Santa Monica office. Please join me in wishing her the very best in her new position.